Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Review

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1 / Part 2

Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rubert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michael Gambon

Doby? Doby. Doby! “Yes Sir?” Let me give you a recently worn sock for your freedom. First, I ask only that you wash it with Tide, because I  flew around all day as black mass of energy, and they rank of something terrible. “Aye, Sir”.

Okay, so that never happened in any of the 8 films, but I needed some way of leading myself into this movie review, and what better way than product plugging. Now on with the show. I will be first to tell you, that I was never really sold on the Harry Potter bandwagon. Never read a single J.K Rowling book, and never uttered “Winguardian Leviosa” with a plastic wand from Walmart. When the first film came out it was interesting but appealed more to my younger brother’s age group (he’s 2 ½ years younger than me). After that, I didn’t stay too in tuned with rest of the following films as they were released. It wasn’t until 2007, when I started to catch up to more recent films. I saw Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and The Goblet of Fire. Still, the dark and emotionally in depth complex that you would expect from a transitioning group of magic bound friends from children to adults wasn’t there (Besides the death of Robert Pattinson character at the end of the Triwizard Tournament.)

Then finally, came The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2. Both films are focused around the idea that Harry Potter needs to find all of these Horcruxes. The Horcruxes are seven objects in which Lord Voldemort split his soul into. As long as the Horcruxes survive, so does Lord Voldemort. These last two movies, a split from the final book are emotional wrenching, and filled with moral dilemmas that leave Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and even Severus Snape at the crossroads. In the last movie we learn the motivation behind Snape’s betrayal on Dumbledore. Something that Harry never could of imagined. All I will say is that for the last 7 films I always believed Snape was a sleeping villain. Someone who constantly convinces us that  he is on the side that counts, but still holds this poker face that you can’t help but question every step of the way.

The last two movies bring about jealously, envy, and most of all coming to terms with death. Martyring yourself for the sake of the ones you love. Knowing that cards have been dealt in your favor long enough, and that its time to ante up. Let’s not forget after all of the awkward tension, we finally get to see Ron and Hermoine kiss after destroying one of the Horcruxes in the snake’s chamber. We also get to see Neville Long Bottom (Yes, the kid who used to get potions blown up in his face) ultimately saving Ron and Hermoine but decapitating Nagini (Voldemort’s snake and Horecrux). Through out the vicious attack that falls upon Hogwarts Castle that leaves it ruins, Harry manages to trick Voldemort (who is now mortal) into a duel in which Harry destroys Voldemort forever. Part 2 leaves a triumphant end to such a long running story, but also brings ends to some of the audiences favorite characters. I’d say that these last two movies were a whole different level for Harry Potter movies to come before.

For the first time, I was able to feel the character’s tears, joys, and losses as I watched their comfort world torn to ruin. The most heart wrenching scene was in Part 1 when you watch Hermoine put a spell on her parents to erase any memory of her from their lives. It was that scene alone that set the tone for the best two Harry Potter of the series. I won’t spoil too much more of the plot, but I’ll just say that I highly recommend ANYONE to see the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2.

7 out of 10 for Deathly Hallows: Part 1

8.5 out of 10 for Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Captain America: The First Avenger Review

Captain America: The First Avenger

Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, and Tommy Lee Jones

The Human Torch, a Marvel hero, is cast as another Marvel hero. COMIC BOOK Violation. You can’t have the same actor play two heroes that are in the same universe. You might say well Ryan Reynolds played Green Lantern, and played Deadpool in Wolverine. This is correct but each character is a from a different universe. One being DC and the other, Marvel. So when I heard that Chris Evans, who played the Human Torch was going to play another Marvel hero in this summer’s Captain America, I was scared. Well, more doubtful of the movie’s success. The Human Torch fit Chris Evan’s personality to a T, and Captain America was a lot different. Captain America was a simple, subtle, and emotionally strong hero.

12:00 am hit, and the movie began. Now was my chance to judge whether not Captain America: The First Avenger was a Comic Book Violation or an exception to the rule. First, it was quite odd what they did to Chris Evan’s physique to make him a foot shorter, and 75 pounds smaller. However, it wasn’t done terribly and never distracted me from the storyboard of the film. As the film went on, you become empathetic to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and his situation. Always wanting to be the man that any other could be, but always falling short to difference. Until he’s given the chance to be in the army, but Stanley Tucci’s character. After that, our zero is used in an experiment that terms him into our hero. It’s then when we get to see all the work that Chris Evans put into his body as he was preparing for this role.

Captain America is born!

The film kept us with plenty of storyline to leave us feeling like we are a part of some grand story unraveling. Great lines from Tommy Lee Jones gives the movie that slight comedic edge that any winning formula needs. Especially the line about giving a kiss when Captain is about to jump onto a large plane starting to take off for New York City. Plus, let’s not forget about Hugo Weaving who plays Red Skull. Without a great actor to portray the villain we wouldn’t have a movie (think of Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”).

By the film’s closing, when Captain America leaves his leading lady with a promise for a dinner. You realize just how much of actor Chris Evans has become. From “Not Another Teen Movie” to Captain America. Captain America did what it needed. After two failed attempts from Hulk movie launches, Marvel needed to start building the momentum toward the Avengers movie that comes out next summer. With Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and now Captain America they have a whole lot of steam. The preview they have of a The Avenger at the end of the credits keeps you assured too.

7.5 out of 10

Transformers - Dark of the Moon Review

Transformers - Dark of the Moon

Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, John Turturro, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Patrick Dempsey, and John Malkovich

Michael Bay. People call him the dictator. The director with a high list of demands. Megan Fox parted ways with him before the filming of Transformers 3 because of his high demands. However, these demands do equal results in his movies, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon is no different. You need to be in great shape to survive the long drawn out action scenes that are sprinkled through out the movie. The action scenes that add an extra hour or more to the run time of all his films. But it makes the perfect summer blockbuster.

It takes place 3 months after Sam graduates from his Ivy League college. Sam struggles to find a job having no experience besides saving the world twice. Shia LaBeouf is great as always as Sam Witwicky, personal friend of the Autobots. Sam lives with his new beau, Carly Spencer who replaces Megan Fox’s character (In the script it’s said that Makayla breaks up with Sam and leaves him). Carly is played by Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely (She’s even given some slow motion scenes that could be worthy of a lingerie commercial). As the movie continues you on, Sam is once again faced with saving the world and salvaging his romantic relationship. You watch as some of your favorite Autobots are destroyed, and not brought back to life. You get some great supporting performances from John Malkovich, and Patrick Dempsey who pull Transformers 3 out of the same path as its predecessor.

Transformers 3 is a great 2 hr and 34 minute action packed adventure. With enough explosions, and swinging robots to keep any adrenaline junky happy. The downside is that script is very empty, and at times not even there. Character development is good for the first 45 minutes but begins to fizzle out into just action sequences by the end of the movie and then a Linkin Park song hits the theatre speakers as you would come to expect.

In hindsight they should of incorporated Bumblebee more. Not so much with saving Sam, because that was the one part of Bumblebee’s role that stayed. But more as a character to help develop Sam. Instead, Optimus had most of the screen time. He did however, offer his famous lines of advice that opened, drove, and ended the movie. All in all, it still a movie to see. The first Transformers movie in 3D, and something that can keep your eyes occupied.

5.5 out of 10